Comprehensive Guide To Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a type of insurance that provides cover for the cost of unexpected and unforeseen emergencies and incidents when you are travelling. It also connects travellers with an emergency assistance team that can provide advice and help arrange medical treatment and repatriation home.

Cover typically consists of two components:

• Financial Assistance where a range of emergency expenses related to your travel is covered.
• Emergency Assistance which you can call if you require help in the event of an emergency.

There are three main types of policies:

• International for travel outside of Australia
• Domestic for travel within Australia
• Annual multi trip for numerous trips within a 12 month period

Read more...

Travel insurance provides support to travellers who need financial assistance while travelling.

The financial assistance comes from the premiums that travellers pay – an insurer pools money together from the large number of people who purchase a policy. The money pooled together can then be used to pay for the emergency expenses of a few people who had purchased a policy and who require that assistance.

People who don’t have to make a claim may not have had to use their policy, but they’re assured while travelling that they would not have to pay a huge cost if something did go wrong that their policy provides cover for. 

A travel insurance premium is the price paid for an insurance policy and is calculated by considering a number of factors. Some of the factors that Fast Cover considers when considering your premium include but are not limited to:

1. The region you are travelling to
2. Traveller type(s) - single, duo or family policy
3. Ages of travellers today
4. Duration of your trip
5. Existing medical conditions that are approved for cover following a medical screening
6. Whether you are riding a moped, scooter or motorcycle
7. Whether you are skiing or snowboarding
8. Whether you are going on a cruise
9. The level of excess you’d like
10. Activities you plan to do such as scuba diving, horse riding,  or bungee jumping etc
11. Any specified items you’d like to specifically cover on your trip
12. Rental vehicle excess reduction

By answering some basic questions about these 10 factors, the price of your policy is calculated specifically for you and your trip.

Travel insurance excess is the amount you need to pay towards any claim you make on your policy.  You don’t pay an excess when you first purchase a policy – only when you need to make a claim.

For most types of policies, you have the option to reduce the excess amount when you purchase the policy. Read more...

Does the best travel insurance even exist? Ultimately the best insurance is the one with the benefits and premiums that suits you and the type of trip that you will be taking.

As with other types of insurance, you buy a policy hoping you won’t need to use it. So, while getting a policy may seem like an unnecessary expense when you’re planning your holiday, what if anything unexpected or unforeseen happens while you’re travelling? Can you afford to pay?

The last thing you want to do is to pay out thousands of dollars on medical bills or having to buy another camera because it was stolen from you. With a travel insurance policy, you may be covered for medical expenses and damaged or lost items as well as other costs that can occur unexpectedly. Read more...

People often question the necessity of travel insurance by saying “It won’t happen to me” and “I’m always careful” or “I never claim so why should I buy it?”

Unforeseen and unexpected incidents happen to ordinary travellers every day - from cancelled holidays due to Bali volcanic ash clouds, to luggage lost or damaged by airlines, to serious injuries from falls or major illness such as heart attacks, it happens to travellers of all ages, from all walks of life, regardless of the type of holiday they take. If it does happen to you, and if you do need to make a claim, having insurance can save you thousands of dollars. Read more...

Yes, some countries may require proof of travel insurance before you are granted access. With the International Experience Canada (IEC) visa you may be refused entry if you do not have cover for the entire time you will be in Canada.

When taking out insurance it’s easy to focus on the obvious things we want covered; medical emergencies, luggage theft and possible cancellations… but not all unexpected issues are created equally.

Find out the 5 unexpected reasons you never knew you needed travel insurance for and how to avoid some nasty and tricky situations.

If you ever thought travel insurance was not necessary here is 6 reasons why you are so WRONG. Read more...

A quote is the calculation of the cost of the premium you would need to pay for your insurance, based on the type of holiday you’re planning to take and what you want to be covered for.

7 questions to get a travel insurance quote 

1. What region or country you are travelling to
2. Your departure date from your home
3. Your return date to your home
4. Who is travelling (single, duo or family)
5. The age of each traveller today (not the ages when you’re travelling)
6. Are you going on a cruise?
7. Are you going skiing or snowboarding?

To get a fast and simple quote with Fast Cover, you can do an online quote or get one over the phone with one of our specialists.

There are different region classifications when purchasing travel insurance, and one of the determinants of the price of your premium will be based on the region you choose. Most insurance companies categorise their policies by ‘lower’ and ‘higher’ regions. Domestic policies would be considered a lower region and countries such as North, Central & South America, Africa, Middle East, Antarctica, Sub-Antarctic would be considered as ‘higher’ regions. If you choose a ‘higher’ region, you would usually be covered for travel to areas in ‘lower’ regions. Read more...

4 questions to ask to choose a safe holiday travel destination

1. What are the medical risks?
2. What is the risk of being a victim of crime?
3. What other risks and dangers are there specific to the destination?
4. What safety precautions will I take before I depart?

Unfortunately, not all countries are safe to travel to and travel insurance may not cover travel to them. Our travel destination guide provides tips on choosing a safe destination for your next trip and also a number of guides for specific destinations. Read more...

Bali is a tourist hotspot for Australians due to its proximity, value for money and hidden gems for every type of traveller. Our Bali insurance guide gives you an insight into the best way to navigate through this fun but sometimes dangerous country. From motorcycle cover to natural disasters, we let you know what we’re able to cover you for.

Find out how to travel safe in Bali with our Bali Health and Safety Guide. 

Being Australia’s neighbour, New Zealand is a popular country for Australian travellers. Read our insurance guide for New Zealand to find answers to all your New Zealand Travel Insurance questions. We’ve also created a New Zealand Health and Safety Guide to help you stay safe. 

International Travel Insurance is there for when you’re travelling overseas and need cover for medical, cancellations and other expenses that can occur while travelling. This can also include luggage cover, travel delays, accidental death and other expenses. Depending on the type of policy you take out, the cover can start from when you purchase the policy until you return back to your home. Read more...

Travel Insurance is mostly seen as something you purchase for overseas holidays, however you can also purchase it for domestic trips. Even with holidaying in Australia, there’s always a chance you’ll need to cancel your holiday and you’ll be out of pocket for pre-booked flights, accommodation or activities. Domestic policies may also include cover for Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance, which can turn out to be a lot cheaper than reducing the insurance excess with the car rental company. Read more...

Insurance policies cover different types of travellers including:

1. Singles
2. Couples
3. Friends
4. Families
5. Backpackers
6. Seniors
7. Students
8. Groups

Travelling solo on your trip is a good way to see the world. The freedom and flexibility of a single policy travel insurance gives you all the benefits of a duo and family policy. With options to add on protection for pre-paid travel expenses along with medical coverage, getting cover for your holidays is easy! 

Fast Cover offers discounted duo policies if you’re travelling with someone. There are no age restrictions on our duo policies and you don’t have to be related! Friends, workmates, cousins, siblings, adult child etc can all purchase a duo policy.

Everything you needed to know about the type of cover you can have while travelling with your family. We’ve also put together a health and safety guide with tips on travelling with kids. The focus is on cover for the unexpected and keeping you all healthy and safe.

Working? Studying overseas? Volunteering? Or taking a GAP year? Taking out travel insurance for backpacking around the globe is an important investment to cover you for any injuries and damage of luggage that may occur while you and your friends are travelling. We know you’d want to stay safe and healthy too, so check out our Backpackers Health and Safety Guide and be prepared.

Seniors travel insurance is available for travellers who are over the age of 65 up until the age of 89. Whether cover is available will depend on the policy chosen. Senior travellers can be covered for unexpected overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, luggage and personal effects and also cruise holidays. Our Seniors Health and Safety Guide can also help to keep you healthy and safe while you’re on the road. Read more...

Students can take out travel insurance for students for their study and working or volunteering holiday trips. You can get cover for expenses such as medical, luggage and personal effects as well as bungee jumping, white water rafting and hiking. 

Travellers are considered a group when there are 3 or more adults travelling together. This can be a group of friends, an intergenerational family, extended family or a sporting or interest group. Read more...

Travel insurance covers a multitude of activities from bike riding to skiing and snowboarding. Depending on your age and the type of policy you choose, you can tailor your policy to be covered for the activities you’re planning to do.

From what is cruise cover, to how it works and why you may need it for your next trip. Everything you needed to know about covering you and your family on your next water voyage. Read more...

Skiing is a fun and exciting past time but can be a dangerous activity. Be educated when it comes to the danger of snow sports by reading our 16 must know safety tips! Read more...

Depending on what adventure you decide to take on your trip, travel insurance can cover you for a variety of activities on your trip. Not all policies automatically cover you for all activities so check with your insurance provider for information on the different levels of cover they offer.

Everything surfers need to know about choosing the right travel insurance for your surfing holiday. Read more...

Everything you needed to know about riding a motorcycle while you are travelling overseas. From motorcycle cover conditions, to whether you need a licence, to how to be a safe rider, our guide gives you all the information you need for your next riding trip. Read more...

There are many different types of travel insurance policies and it can be overwhelming to find the right one. Choosing the right level of cover could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress. From Comprehensive to Basic, you can choose and tailor different insurance policies to suit the type of travel that you’re doing. Read more...

There are many variables in deciding the right policy for you. Read our guide to help navigate the different options. Read more...

1. Get quotes from a number of different companies
2. Compare the different polices each insurance company offers
3. Compare the benefits on each policy
4. Compare the dollar amount of limits and sub limits for each benefit
5. Read the Product Disclosure Statements (PDS)
6. Check the list of General Exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)
7. Read the travel insurer's online ratings and customer reviews on independent websites like Product Review or Compare Travel Insurance.
8. Compare the price of each policy
9. Finally, decide which benefits are most important to you and which policy has the ideal level of cover for your needs.
10. Buy direct from an insurance company’s website or over the phone rather than a comparison website to ensure you have access to all the information you need to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Choosing the right insurance company is as important as choosing the right policy for you. There are plenty of comparison sites to help you compare benefits, benefit limits and price before purchasing a policy. Below are some suggestions.

• Finder
• Compare Travel Insurance
• Compare The Market
• iSelect
• MOZO

We need you to complete a medical screening for any Medical Condition or Pregnancy Condition that you have had within the last 3 years prior to policy purchase date, or for any changes in your health including new medical conditions or pregnancy, from the date of policy purchase, up until the time of departure for your trip. Read more...

Cover for when you travel while pregnant may be possible! Make sure you explore your travel insurance options carefully before you buy or even travel.  Read more...

There are many questions expectant mothers have when considering travelling overseas with bub on the way. Being safe and healthy while travelling would definitely be one of those questions. This guide aims to do just that! Read more...

Are you an expectant mother? Not sure what a babymoon is? Check out our cute infographic, with the top tips for travelling overseas while pregnant and on your babymoon. Read more...

You may be able to get cover if you have cancer by completing a medical screening. Read more...

Existing conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and other mental illnesses shouldn't prevent you from travelling, but you should check with your travel insurance provider to see if they are able to provide cover for your existing medical condition. Read more...

Heart conditions can spring up at any time in our lives and, in some cases, cause things to come to a standstill. While some heart conditions may not give you any trouble, it’s important to find out the type of cover you can take out, to cover you for your medical expenses. Read more...

If you’re planning a holiday overseas and are undergoing dialysis treatment, this guide outlines what you need to know to find the right travel insurance for your situation. Read more...

One of the most important and fun parts of travelling is trying the new food! This guide offers you tips and information for your next foodie trip so you can avoid aggravating your already sensitive allergies or food intolerances. Read more...

Taking blood thinners? Will your travel insurance company be able to cover you? If blood thinning medication is something that you are taking currently and will be taking while you travel, read our comprehensive guide on how taking blood thinning medication can affect your travel insurance policy.

Repatriation is a benefit that means to 'return back to your home country.' There are other benefits that are important to understand that is not the cost for medical expenses but the cost of medical transportation in your death. 

Whether on the open sea or floating on a river cruise, knowing the right level of cover will ensure you are covered for the unexpected while you are enjoying your voyage on water.

Although most countries come with access to health care and have relatively good medical systems, not all countries should be travelled to without any travel insurance. Here is a list of some the top countries you may consider taking out travel insurance with medical expenses covered.

A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is written document that includes all information relating to a particular financial product such as travel or health insurance or a home loan and includes the benefits, risks, terms and conditions of the product. Specifically for travel insurance, it includes benefits, dollar limits of each benefit, what is covered and what is not covered. It can be more commonly known as a PDS.

The PDS is available on the website and companies will issue you a ‘Product Disclosure Statement’ when you purchase a policy.

When purchasing a policy, the Product Disclosure Statement is essential reading before you purchase a policy. Why? Well, if you claim for something which is specifically stated in the PDS as not something that can be covered, you could be left with medical bills worth hundreds and thousands of dollars. Conversely, you might find out that you can be covered for something which you didn’t think you could claim for!

When you take out a policy with an insurance provider you are paying for the ‘Benefits’ that the policy can offer. Benefits may include cover for medical expenses, lost or stolen luggage, cancelling your trip, personal liability, travel delays, family emergencies and even the unimaginable such as accidental death. Below we have listed the most popular travel insurance benefits and provided a brief explanation.

Medical cover is usually the main reason why travellers buy a policy. This benefit provides certain cover for the cost of overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses arising from unexpected illness or injury. Costs of medical in some overseas hospitals can run into the hundreds of thousands, so it is an important benefit to consider when purchasing.  

If you have a pre-existing medical or pregnancy condition and require cover for the medical or pregnancy condition, you can complete a medical screening so that we can determine if we can provide you with cover.

Being covered for trip cancellations is an important consideration for a lot of travellers. If you’re unable to travel because you or a family member is seriously sick or injured, or a natural disaster prevents you from leaving, you may be able to claim for the deposits for airfares, accommodation, tours or cruises that you’ve already paid.

Your lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal belongings can be covered under this benefit if you have the right policy. The amount that you can be covered for will depend on the type of policy that you take out.

Serious pain to your natural teeth is bad enough when you’re at home, but when overseas? This benefit will cover for some of the cost for you to get this fixed.

All our policies provide cover for you to be evacuated to a hospital or repatriated back to Australia if the Emergency Assistance team decide that it is necessary.

You may be entitled to this benefit if you are injured and become permanently disabled within 12 months of your injury.

Hospitalised in a foreign country? We know it’s not going to be much fun. This benefit helps to cover some of the out-of-pocket, non-medical expenses which you may have, such as phone calls or non-hospital food!

You can put in a claim under the Personal Liability benefit if you incur costs because you are legally responsible for an accident which causes injury to an external person or damage to property.

If you are hiring a rental vehicle on your travels, taking out cover for rental vehicle insurance excess will cover the excess portion of your rental car insurance if you damage the rental car in an accident.

If your travel is delayed due to circumstances out of your control, like a natural disaster or bad weather, and you incur additional food and accommodation expenses, the Travel Delay benefit can help you to recoup some of those costs.

This benefit can cover your additional travel and accommodation expenses if during your trip, your travel is interrupted due to circumstances either overseas or at home and is outside of your control.

This benefit provides for your additional expenses to return to, or resume your trip, if it was unexpectedly cancelled, disrupted or delayed.

If you are travelling to attend a special event and you find that you won’t be able to arrive as planned due to your transport being cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted, you may be able claim for the expenses you incur, to book another form of transport to get you to where you need to be.

No one wants to die while they travel, however this is an unforeseen tragedy that sometimes does occur. If this does happen, this benefit will pay out a lump sum to your estate.

If you’ve lost your income because you were injured overseas and not able to do your usual work upon your return home, this benefit will help to ease some of the financial strain.

Make sure you protect these valuable items, but if they are stolen, lost or fraudulently used, this benefit will cover some of the replacement costs or loss that you incur.

If the money you are carrying on yourself (not in your bags or left in the hotel safe) has been stolen, there is limited cover to claim for its replacement.

No toothbrush or pyjamas because your luggage was sent to the wrong destination by the airline? This benefit will help to tide you over until your luggage arrives.

If you’ve brought along your own snow equipment and it becomes lost, stolen or accidentally damaged, you’ll be able to claim for them under this benefit.

Snow equipment delayed, misdirected, stolen or accidentally damaged? Hire replacement snow equipment and you could put a claim in for the cost.

If you’ve been prepared and book your lift-passes, equipment hire and lessons in advance, but then become too sick or injured to use them, this benefit will reimburse you for what you haven’t been able to use.

Despite all your preparation, not everything will go to plan. So if there’s too much snow, no enough snow, the weather makes it impossible to ski or there’s a power failure, you can claim for the cost of travelling to another resort, and also the cost of the lift passes there.

Our policies automatically cover you for many activities, however, if you wanted to do something a little more risky, check out what else we can cover you for with our add-on Adventure Pack.

If you're planning on riding a moped, scooter or motorcycle, add the Motorcycle Pack to your policy to cover you in case you're injured in an accident. 

Taking your bike on your holiday? Take out the Bicycle Pack to cover it in case it is permanently lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.

Compare different policies and see what benefits they offer and what they don’t. The best insurance policy for you will be the one that suits the type of trip you are planning.

Each benefit specified in the PDS covers different situations and come with varying benefit limits. Benefit limits specify the maximum dollar amount that you can claim for or be covered for. Limits can depend on:

• Adventure and Sports
• Age
• The type of policy that you take out
• The type of travel you are planning on doing

Sub-limits are the limits within the specified benefit limits! For example, if you have a policy with cover for Luggage and Personal Effects up to $5000, and your camera was stolen, you wouldn’t be able to claim for $5000 for the camera (even if you paid that much for it). The maximum you can claim for a camera is $3000 under a Fast Cover policy – this is the sub-limit.

Natural disasters can occur at any time. Buying cover for the unexpected is an important investment when travelling. This can cover you for not only medical expenses but cancellation and luggage costs. Read more...

Terrorism related incidents are not always covered by travel insurance. It’s a good idea to look into whether or not your insurance provider can offer this as a benefit to your policy. Read more...

There are a number of healthcare agreements that Australia has with some overseas countries where the cost of medically necessary care is taken care of for Australian travellers.

Insurance policies are not able to cover for every eventuality on your trip. They are designed to cover the most likely unexpected events or the ones that would have the greatest financial impact. Make sure that you read the travel insurer’s PDS carefully, including the policy exclusions, so that you know what you would be able to claim for and what you are not.

Fast Cover believe that buying insurance shouldn’t be a slow and complicated process, so we’ve made fast and simple for you. 

1. Consider what level of cover you need for your trip
2. Get travel insurance quotes
3. Compare providers and policies
4. Read the Product Disclosure Statement
5. Purchase a policy

While there are a variety of places to get travel insurance such as directly with providers, banks, through your credit card, supermarkets, airlines and even pharmacies. The most important thing you should do is to do your research, read the PDS and ensure that the policy you are buying will cover you for the type of holiday you’re going on. Read more...

The best time to buy travel insurance is as soon as you have made any payments for any part of your trip. If the policy you choose has cover for cancellation, this benefit kicks in as soon as you have purchased it. If you need to cancel your trip before you’ve purchased a policy, you won’t be able to claim for any lost payments for hotels, flights or tours.

However, it’s never too late to buy - you can buy a policy right up until you board the plane. And if you’re already en route to your destination and forgot to buy, there’s also the option to purchase an already overseas policy. However, a waiting period may apply before you are able to make a claim. Read more...

Cheap travel insurance is not always the best choice when it comes to covering the important things like medical expenses, luggage damage or theft or cancellation of your trip. Find out what you need to consider, when researching cheap cover insuance and why cheap is not always better. Read more...

Buying online travel insurance is much the same as buying from a travel agent, but the process is done on a computer, tablet or mobile which helps make it quicker, easier, cover is instantaneous and it’s usually cheaper.

Not all holidays are the same every time. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re looking for when you’re looking around for a policy to suit your next holiday.

When purchasing Travel Insurance, you need to ensure you adhere to all qualifications outlined in the PDS or your entire policy will be invalid.

If you’ve boarded your plane or cruise ship and are on your way to your destination, yes you are! Make sure you buy an Already Overseas policy if this is the case. Remember, a waiting period may apply for all benefits.

When you take out a policy with a travel insurance company, you have a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation, that may affect the insurer’s decision to offer you a policy or to pay out your claim.

It is very much possible to save on travel insurance. In fact, we’ve come up with 20 ways to save so check them out and share with your family and friends. Read more...

Once you purchase travel insurance there isn’t much else you need to do, but remember that it’s more than just a reference number. Read more...

Your policy is a legally binding document that tells you exactly what you’re covered for, who is covered in the policy and who you should call if you have an emergency overseas.

Travel insurance companies issue alerts which may affect the cover your policy may provide. Once an event (such as a Bali Ash Cloud) becomes a known event, there is no longer provision to claim for that event. Each alert has a date in which a policy must be purchased before for you to be able to make a claim.

You also should be aware of Smartraveller Travel Advisories which are a rating system with four levels of caution, to represent the potential dangers of travelling to a country. These travel advisories can affect whether your policy will cover you if you travel to that country or region. Read more...

Once you have purchased your policy, you do have the freedom to make changes due to any mistakes made when purchasing your policy or because your holiday plans have changed.

Need to update your contact details? Upgrade your policy? Put in the wrong departure or return date? Find out what you need to do to make sure your policy correctly reflects your trip.

You can extend your policy while you’re travelling, up until your return date, as specified on your policy certificate. This can be done either online or you can call your travel insurance provider to extend the policy for you.  An additional fee may apply.

We know that things can change and sometimes you need to cancel your policy. If your travel date hasn’t passed within your cooling off period, and your cooling off period hasn’t already passed, we’ll be able to cancel and refund your policy premium as long as you have not made a claim.

Our 25 day cooling off period gives you time to double check that the policy you have purchased is right for you.

Contact us within the 25 day cooling off period or before your travel departure date (whichever comes first) and we’ll cancel your policy and refund your premium, no questions asked, as long as you have not made a claim.  

If you’re not enjoying your holiday or become homesick and return home before your policy ends, you will NOT be able to get a refund for the remaining period of time.

What you should do when something happens while you are travelling, depends on whether it’s an emergency situation or not.

If in doubt, contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team and they will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take for your specific situation.

An emergency situation includes you being hospitalised, you’re stranded at your destination, or you are injured and require medical assistance. Contact the Emergency Assistance team as soon as you can, so that they can provide appropriate assistance. Read more...

Billy was experiencing 'Bali belly' like symptoms during his trip. Read Billy's real life story! 

Stolen luggage or medical treatment under $2000 where you’re not in the USA and don’t require further assistance are considered non-emergency situations. Make sure you get all appropriate documentation to support your claim such as receipts, medical records, police reports, photo’s etc.

Claims are a reimbursement for any costs incurred while travelling overseas. This usually comes with a standard excess and sometimes a medical excess, depending on your age and the insurer.

There are 5 steps to making a claim, in the event something should happen while you’re travelling:

1. Be prepared before you travel
2. Act fast if an incident occurs
3. Before you make a claim read the PDS and double check you are covered to avoid any disappointments
4. Submit your claim
5. Look through our Claim Preparation Checklist

Once you have lodged your claim, the claims team will assess the claim and contact you within 10 business days. If the claims team require more information from you, they will let you know.

To ensure your claim is processed in a timely manner, it’s your responsibility to be truthful and that you provide all the required documentation to back up your claim.

You can lodge a claim online or download a copy of the claim form and email or post the form with your supporting documentation. Read more...

After your claim has been processed by a travel insurance provider they will contact you to advise you of the outcome of your claim. If you dispute the outcome of the claim, you have the right to escalate the matter to firstly the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee. If you dispute the Committees findings, you can then lodge a dispute with the Financial Ombudsmen Service.

As you’d expect, our claims team process a huge number of claims each day, so whatever your claiming for, we’ve probably seen it before! Several of your fellow travellers have generously agreed to share their holiday stories that the unexpected happened. Read more...

We’ll always do our very best for you, but sometimes things don’t go as well as we’d like. In these instances, we’d really like to you to contact us to give us a chance to resolve any issues.

1. Contact us by email or phone and make us aware of any issues. If unsatisfied with the outcome:
2. Request for your complaint to be escalated to the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee. If unsatisfied with the outcome:
3. Lodge a dispute with the Financial Ombudsman Service

We hope you’ll always be happy with our service, however, if you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your claim, we have an Internal Dispute Resolution process which you have access to for reconsideration of your claim.

The committee is made up of underwriter representatives who reviews your claim, all supporting documentation and the ruling made by the claims team. If they find in your favour, the claim denial will be overturned and your claim will be paid. If they uphold the decision of the claims team, the claim denial will stand.

The Financial Obudsman Service (FOS) is an independent body with no relationship to any insurance company or underwriter. They provide a free and independent service where they will review your claim if you dispute the decision made by the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee. If your dispute is upheld, they can overturn the decision of the underwriter and your claim will be paid. If their decision is that the claim should be denied the denial of the claim will remain.

You will have to lodge your dispute with the Financial Obudsman Service yourself, the insurance company or the underwriter are unable to do so on your behalf.

A review is written feedback from a traveller about their experience with the company they purchased their policy from. The review may be about the buying process, customer service, emergency assistance or claims. It is normally on a scale from 1 to 5, 1 being a poor experience and 5 being an excellent experience.  It also includes a written component that describes what their experience was like in their opinion to support the rating provided.

The reviews are very useful to your fellow travellers as it’s a good way to gauge how a company will perform when you need them. Read more...

With insider knowledge, years of experience and being travellers ourselves, we’re happy to be sharing everything we know for you to get the most of your policy.

Get the most out of your policy with these top tips from experts. There’s even some tips on saving money and getting a better deal. Read more...

Why spend more than you have to? Check out these tips and save some money so you’ll have more to spend on your holiday. Read more...

Fast Cover have created a comprehensive glossary with specific definitions and explanations for the most commonly used words in our policies, PDS and on our website. The glossary also includes phrases and ‘words with special meaning’ that you may come across when comparing quotes. Definitions may differ from insurer to insurer. Read more...